Reducer adjuster buckles

ABSTRACT

A reducer adjuster buckle is provided for use with flexible webbing tapes. The reducer adjuster buckle has a wide-tape body portion for connection to a relatively wide flexible webbing tape. The reducer adjuster buckle also has a tape adjuster body portion for connection to a relatively narrow flexible webbing tape. The tape adjuster body portion allows the effective length of the narrow flexible webbing tape to be shortened or lengthened. The reducer adjuster buckle is a unitary buckle that provides the features of both reducing a wide flexible webbing tape to a narrow flexible webbing tape and adjusting the effective length of the narrow flexible webbing tape.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention generally pertains to buckles and buckle assemblies. More specifically, the present invention pertains to reducer adjuster buckles. The present invention provides buckles which combine the features of a reducer buckle and an adjuster buckle into one device for use with flexible webbing tapes.

[0002] Buckles for use with flexible fabric straps are known. However, needs exist for improved buckles, and existing buckles can be improved.

[0003]FIG. 1 shows a plan view of an existing adjuster buckle 10 during use. A flexible strap 12 is threaded through the adjuster buckle 10 in a known manner such that an effective length of the flexible strap 12 can be adjusted. The effective length of the flexible strap 12 can be lengthened or shortened by appropriately sliding the flexible strap 12 through the adjuster buckle 10. The adjuster buckle 10 may be used, for example, with a shoulder strap to adjust the effective length of the shoulder strap during use.

[0004] Flexible straps are available in different sizes, and have different lengths and widths. One may desire to use flexible straps having different widths for a particular application. Referring to FIG. 1, the flexible strap 12 is attached to another flexible strap 14. The flexible strap 14 has a width greater than the width of the flexible strap 12. The wide flexible strap 14 may be positioned on the shoulder of a user, and the narrow flexible strap 12 can hang downward and be attached to an article suspended by the flexible straps 12, 14.

[0005] However, the narrow flexible strap 12 having the adjuster buckle 10 and joined to the wide flexible strap 14 can have disadvantages. The narrow and wide flexible straps 12, 14 must be joined together. The narrow flexible strap 12 and the wide flexible strap 14 are typically joined together by sewing stitches 16, shown as dotted lines in FIG. 1. A box stitch pattern of stitching 16 is commonly used to join the narrow and wide flexible straps 12, 14 together. The box stitch pattern of stitching 16 is used to provide sufficient strength for joining two flexible straps having different widths. Sewing the narrow and wide straps 12, 14 together, particularly by the box stitch 16, increases manufacturing complexity. Also, if the joint is not sufficiently secure, the joint may fail and the narrow and wide flexible straps 12, 14 may separate.

[0006] Further, the wide flexible strap 14 has free, exposed corners 18 a, 18 b (shown folded in FIG. 1) due to the different widths of the narrow and wide flexible straps 12, 14. The exposed corners 18 a, 18 b may undesirably catch on objects, which can place increased stresses on the joint between the narrow and wide flexible straps 12, 14. Also, the free, exposed corners 18 a, 18 b can detract from the visual appearance of the flexible straps 12, 14. The free, exposed corners 18 a, 18 b may also result in an uncomfortable feel for the user.

[0007] As shown in FIG. 1, the corners 18 a, 18 b of the wide flexible strap 14 may be folded back over the wide flexible strap 14 and attached to the wide flexible strap 14. Stitching 20, shown as dotted lines in FIG. 1, can be used to attach the folded corners 18 a, 18 b to the wide flexible strap 14. The folded corners 18 a, 18 b and stitching 20 requires additional manufacturing processes and may still detract from the visual appearance and user comfort.

[0008] Another disadvantage of the adjuster buckle 10 of FIG. 1 is that the adjuster buckle 10 does not have a structure to join the narrow flexible strap 12 to the wide flexible strap 14. As such, the adjuster buckle 10 does not provide a reducer feature in which the wide flexible strap 14 is reduced to the narrow flexible strap 12.

[0009]FIG. 2 shows an existing reducer type buckle 22 which allows a narrow width flexible strap to be joined to a wide width flexible strap. The reducer buckle 22 has a narrow opening 24 for the narrow width flexible strap, and a wide opening 26 for the wide width flexible strap. FIG. 3 shows the reducer buckle 22 in use. The wide flexible strap 14 is connected to the reducer buckle 22 through the wide opening 26. Similarly, the narrow flexible strap 12 is connected to the reducer buckle 22 through the narrow opening 24.

[0010] However, the reducer buckle 22 can have disadvantages. For example, the reducer buckle 22 does not have a structure for adjusting the effective length of either the wide or narrow flexible straps 12, 14. The reducer buckle 22 does not provide the feature of allowing a flexible strap to be adjusted to shorten or lengthen its effective length during use.

[0011] Further, the reducer buckle 22 is a device in addition to the adjuster buckle 10 of FIG. 1. Accordingly, the adjuster buckle 10 and the reducer buckle 22 increase costs and manufacturing processes. Also, users can experience increased complexity and difficulty when using both the adjuster buckle 10 and the reducer buckle 22. Even further, the adjuster buckle 10 and reducer buckle 22 can result in a less desirable visual appearance and may be less comfortable to the user.

[0012] Accordingly, for the reasons mentioned above and for other reasons, buckles for flexible straps or tapes can be improved. For example, one improvement would be to provide a reducer adjuster buckle which provides the feature of reducing a wide flexible tape to a narrow flexible tape and provides the feature of adjusting the effective length of one of the flexible tapes.

[0013] Existing buckles can also be found in U.S. Pat. No. Des. 308,186 and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 427,547, and Japanese Patent Document Nos. 665295, 665295-1, 665295-2, 665295-3, 665295-4, 665295-5, 690910, 824255, and 1029594.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] New buckles are provided by the present invention. The present invention particularly provides new reducer adjuster buckles for use with flexible webbing tapes. A new reducer adjuster buckle according to the present invention provides a reduction from a relatively wide width flexible webbing tape to a relatively narrow width flexible webbing tape. The reducer adjuster buckle further allows the effective length of the narrow width flexible webbing tape to be adjusted.

[0015] One buckle according to the present invention is for use with first and second tapes having different widths. The buckle has a buckle body having a tape reducer portion and a tape adjuster portion. The tape reducer portion is adapted to connect to the first tape, and the tape adjuster portion is adapted to adjustably connect to the second tape.

[0016] The tape reducer portion may have a tape receiving hole, and the tape adjuster portion may have first and second tape receiving adjuster holes. The tape receiving hole of the tape reducer portion has a greater width than widths of the first and second tape receiving adjuster holes. The tape reducer portion and the tape adjuster portions can be rigidly connected together. The buckle body may be a one-piece molded buckle body.

[0017] One reducer adjuster buckle according to the present invention has a first tape connection portion having a first tape-receiving opening, and a second tape connection portion connected to the first tape connection portion. The second tape connection portion has a tape adjuster portion having first and second tape-receiving adjuster openings.

[0018] In the reducer adjuster buckle, the first tape connection portion may be a wide-tape body portion and the first tape-receiving opening may be a wide-tape opening. The second tape connection portion may be a narrow-tape body portion and the first and second tape-receiving adjuster openings may be first and second narrow-tape openings. The first tape-receiving opening may be wider than the first and second tape-receiving adjuster openings.

[0019] During use of the reducer adjuster buckle with a wide tape and a narrow tape in which the wide tape is wider than the narrow tape, the first tape connection portion accepts the wide tape through the first tape-receiving opening. The second tape connection body portion accepts the narrow tape through the first and second tape-receiving adjuster openings. And, the reducer adjuster buckle connects the wide tape to the narrow tape and adjusts an effective length of the narrow tape.

[0020] The first and second tape connection portions of the reducer adjuster buckle may be rigidly connected together. The first and second tape connection portions of the reducer adjuster buckle may form a one-piece molded buckle body.

[0021] One buckle assembly according to the present invention has a buckle having a tape connection portion and a tape adjuster portion. A first flexible tape is connected to the tape connection portion. A second flexible tape is connected to the tape adjuster portion such that an effective length of the second flexible tape can be adjusted.

[0022] The first flexible tape can have a greater width than a width of the second flexible tape. The connection portion of the buckle can have a first tape connection hole receiving the first flexible tape, and the tape adjuster portion can have first and second tape adjuster holes receiving the second flexible tape.

[0023] One advantage of the present invention is to provide improved buckles.

[0024] Another advantage of the present invention is to provide improved buckles which provide a reducer buckle feature and an adjuster buckle feature.

[0025] Another advantage of the present invention is to connect a relatively wide flexible tape to a relatively narrow flexible tape and to allow at least one of the flexible tapes to have its effective length adjusted.

[0026] Yet another advantage of the present invention is to provide reducer adjuster buckles that are convenient to use.

[0027] Further advantages of the present invention are to improve manufacturing of buckles, reduce costs of buckles, and enhance the functionality of buckles.

[0028] An even further advantage of the present invention is to provide new buckles that enhance the visual appearance of devices using the buckles.

[0029] Additional features and advantages of the present invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the following Detailed Description of the Invention and the figures. The features and advantages may be desired, but, are not necessarily required to practice the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0030]FIG. 1 is a plan view of an existing adjuster buckle during use.

[0031]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an existing reducer buckle.

[0032]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the reducer buckle of FIG. 2 during use.

[0033]FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of a reducer adjuster buckle according to the principles of the present invention.

[0034]FIG. 5 is a right side view of the reducer adjuster buckle of FIG. 4.

[0035]FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the reducer adjuster buckle of FIG. 4.

[0036]FIG. 7 is a plan view of the reducer adjuster buckle of FIG. 4 during use.

[0037]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the reducer adjuster buckle of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0038] The present invention provides new buckles. The present invention particularly provides new reducer adjuster buckles for use with flexible webbing tapes. A new reducer adjuster buckle according to the present invention provides a reduction from a relatively wide width flexible webbing tape to a relatively narrow width flexible webbing tape, and the ability to adjust the effective length of the narrow width flexible webbing tape. The present invention, however, can be practiced in many different embodiments.

[0039] An example of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 4-6, which show a reducer adjuster buckle 28. FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a top side of the reducer adjuster buckle 28, FIG. 5 shows a right side view of the reducer adjuster buckle 28, and FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a bottom side of the reducer adjuster buckle 28. The reducer adjuster buckle 28 has a structure that provides flexible tape reducing features and flexible tape adjusting features. The reducer adjuster buckle 28 can reduce a relatively wide flexible tape to a relatively narrow flexible tape and provide adjustment of the effective length of the relatively narrow flexible tape.

[0040] The reducer adjuster buckle 28 has a body 30 having a wide-tape body portion 32 connected to a narrow-tape body portion 34. The wide-tape body portion 32 has a wide-tape opening 36 which has a relatively wide width. The wide-tape opening 36 can accept a relatively wide flexible tape. The wide-tape body portion 32 allows the wide flexible tape to be connected to the reducer buckle 28 and to a relatively narrow width flexible tape. Thus, the wide-tape body portion 32 is a reducer portion of the reducer adjuster buckle 28.

[0041] The narrow-tape body portion 34 of the reducer adjuster buckle 28 is a tape adjuster portion. The narrow-tape body portion or tape adjuster portion 34 has a first adjuster opening 38 and a second adjuster opening 40 with an adjuster bridge 42 between the first and second adjuster openings 38, 40. The first and second adjuster openings 38, 40 have relatively narrow widths compared to the width of the wide-tape opening 36 of the wide-tape body portion 32. The adjuster portion 34, particularly the first and second adjuster openings 38, 40, can accept a relatively narrow width flexible tape. The adjuster portion 34 of the reducer adjuster buckle 28 allows the effective length of the flexible tape looped through the adjuster portion 34 to be adjusted, i.e., lengthened or shortened.

[0042] The wide-tape body portion 32 and the narrow-tape body portion 34 are shown as rigidly connected together in a one-piece molded buckle body 30. However, the wide-tape body portion 32 and the narrow-tape body portion 34 can be connected by other structures, for example, an articulated connection or a swivel connection.

[0043] Referring to FIG. 6, the reducer adjuster buckle 28 may have one or more recesses or cavities 44 and webs 46. The recesses 44 can be provided to reduce the amount of material, such as plastic molding material, used to make the reducer adjuster buckle 28. The configuration of the recesses 44 and webs 46 can provide rigidity and strength to the reducer adjuster buckle 28.

[0044]FIGS. 7 and 8 show an example of the reducer adjuster buckle 28 during use. A wide flexible tape 48 is connected to the reducer portion (wide-tape body portion) 32 of the reducer adjuster buckle 28. Specifically, the wide flexible tape 48 is looped through the wide-tape opening 36 and around a bridge 50. The two arms 52, 54 of the wide flexible tape 48 can be secured to each other or another object, if desired. For example, the arms 52, 54 of the wide flexible tape 48 may be secured together or to another object close to the bridge 50 such that there is little or no free space between the arms 52, 54 for movement of the bridge 50. The arms 52, 54 of the wide flexible tape 48 can be joined together or to another object farther away from the bridge 50 such that a loop is formed with free space between the arms 52, 54. The free space between the arms 52, 54 can allow movement and repositioning of the reducer adjuster buckle 28 relative to the wide flexible tape 48 and/or vise versa.

[0045] A narrow flexible tape 56 is connected to the adjuster portion (narrow tape body portion) 34 of the reducer adjuster buckle 28. An arm 58 of the narrow flexible tape 56 is looped upward from the bottom side of the reducer adjuster buckle 28 through the first adjuster opening 38, around the bridge 42, through the second adjuster opening 40, and back to the bottom side of the reducer adjuster buckle 28 to an arm 60. The narrow flexible tape 56 can slide through the adjuster portion 34 to shorten or lengthen the effective length of the narrow flexible tape 56. When the narrow flexible tape 56 is in the position shown in FIG. 8 and pressed against a shoulder 62, the reducer adjuster buckle 28 grips the narrow flexible tape 56 and maintains the narrow flexible tape 56 in that position, i.e., the effective length of the narrow flexible tape 56 is maintained. The narrow flexible tape 56 can be moved off of the shoulder 62 to allow desired sliding through the adjuster portion 34.

[0046] In one example of the reducer adjuster buckle 28, the wide flexible tape 48, and he narrow flexible tape 56 of FIGS. 7 and 8 has the following sizes. The wide flexible tape 48 can have a width of about 2 inches and the narrow flexible tape 56 can have a width of about 1 inch. The openings through the reducer adjuster buckle 28 for the wide and narrow tapes 48, 56 can have sizes which accommodate the 2 inch and 1 inch flexible tapes 48, 56. Preferably, the wide-tape opening 36 may have a 2 inch or slightly larger width, and the first and second adjuster openings 38, 40 may have a 1 inch or slightly larger width. Of course, the reducer adjuster buckle 28 can have other sizes as well as the flexible tapes 48, 56.

[0047] The reducer adjuster buckle 28 can be made of any material suitable for buckles. For example, the reducer adjuster buckle 28 can be made of a plastic material, such as a one-piece molded plastic body. The reducer adjuster buckle 28 can be used with any suitable webbing, tape or strap, etc. Generally, the tapes are flexible; however, the reducer adjuster buckle 28 can be used with tapes of various degrees of flexibility. Also, the reducer adjuster buckle 28 may even be used with non-flexible tapes, for example, a rigid tape can be connected to the wide-tape body reducer portion 32. Tapes made out of any suitable material can be used with the reducer adjuster buckle 28, and the reducer adjuster buckle 28 can be used with two tapes having the same material or different materials.

[0048] The reducer adjuster buckles of the present invention can be used in a wide variety of applications. For example, the reducer adjuster buckles can be used for harnesses and backpacks. The reducer adjuster buckles can also be used for applications which have at least two tapes, particularly tapes having different widths, and where it may be desirable to adjust the effective length of at least one of the tapes.

[0049] The example of the reducer adjuster buckle invention described above and shown in the drawings has the wide-tape body portion 32 being the reducer portion for connecting to a relatively wide flexible tape 48, and the narrow-tape body portion 34 being the adjuster portion for adjustably connecting to a relatively narrow flexible tape 56. However, the present invention contemplates other configurations of the reducer adjuster buckle. For example, the reducer and adjuster body portions could be reversed. In such an embodiment, the reducer body portion can have a narrow width opening to connect the buckle to the relatively narrow width flexible tape, and the adjuster body portion can have wider openings to adjustably connect to the relatively wider flexible tape.

[0050] In another embodiment, the reducer body portion of the reducer adjuster buckle can also be an adjuster portion. In such an embodiment, the reducer adjuster buckle can provide effective length adjustment of both the relatively wide flexible tape and the relatively narrow flexible tape.

[0051] A further example of an alternative embodiment of the present invention relates to the structure of the reducer adjuster buckle that connects to the wide and narrow flexible tapes. The example of the reducer adjuster buckle 28 shown and described has through-holes 36, 38, 40 for looping the wide and narrow flexible tapes 48, 56 through the body of the reducer adjuster buckle 28. However, the through-holes 36, 38, 40 may not extend completely through the buckle body from the top side through to the bottom side. Rather, the flexible tape holes and the buckle body can be configured such that the tape holes are covered on one side of the buckle 28 so as to be blocked from view. Other structures for connecting the flexible tapes 48, 56 to the reducer adjuster buckle are also contemplated.

[0052] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the reducer adjuster buckle 28 is a one-piece buckle that connects the wide flexible tape 48 to the narrow flexible tape 56 and allows adjustment of at least the narrow flexible tape 56. Accordingly, the reducer adjuster buckle 28 provides the features of a reducer buckle and an adjuster buckle in a single buckle structure. The reducer adjuster buckle 28 provides a step down in tape width size while also providing the ability to vary the effective length of at least one the tapes 48, 56. The reducer adjuster buckle 28 is convenient and easy for the user to operate. The reducer adjuster buckle 28 can reduce costs and manufacturing requirements as compared to a reducer buckle separate from an adjuster buckle. Also, the reducer adjuster buckle 28 can provide a favorable visual appearance.

[0053] It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims. 

1. A buckle for use with first and second tapes having different widths, comprising a buckle body having a tape reducer portion and a tape adjuster portion, the tape reducer portion adapted to connect to the first tape, and the tape adjuster portion adapted to adjustably connect to the second tape, the tape adjuster portion having a bridge between first and second tape receiving adjuster holes; and a tape restraining shoulder positioned juxtaposed the second tape receiving adjuster hole, the first tape receiving adjuster hole being free of a tape restraining member.
 2. The buckle of claim 1, wherein the tape reducer portion has a tape receiving hole, the tape receiving hole of the tape reducer portion having a greater width than widths of the first and second tape receiving adjuster holes.
 3. The buckle of claim 1, wherein the buckle body is a one-piece molded buckle body.
 4. The buckle of claim 1, wherein the tape reducer portion and the tape adjuster portions are rigidly connected together.
 5. A reducer adjuster buckle, comprising: a first tape connection portion having a first tape-receiving opening; a second tape connection portion connected to the first tape connection portion and having a tape adjuster portion having first and second tape-receiving adjuster openings, and a tape restraining member positioned juxtaposed one of the first and second tape-receiving adjuster openings, the other one of the first and second tape-receiving adjuster openings being free of a tape restraining member.
 6. The reducer adjuster buckle of claim 5, wherein the first tape connection portion is a wide-tape body portion and the first tape-receiving opening is a wide-tape opening; and the second tape connection portion is a narrow-tape body portion and the first and second tape-receiving adjuster openings are first and second narrow-tape openings.
 7. The reducer adjuster buckle of claim 5, wherein the first tape-receiving opening is wider than the first and second tape-receiving adjuster openings.
 8. The reducer adjuster buckle of claim 5 during use with a wide tape and a narrow tape in which the wide tape is wider than the narrow tape, wherein the first tape connection portion accepts the wide tape through the first tape-receiving opening; the second tape connection body portion accepts the narrow tape through the first and second tape-receiving adjuster openings; and the reducer adjuster buckle connects the wide tape to the narrow tape and adjusts an effective length of the narrow tape.
 9. The reducer adjuster buckle of claim 5, wherein the first and second tape connection portions form a one-piece molded buckle body.
 10. The reducer adjuster buckle of claim 5, wherein the first and second tape connection portions are rigidly connected together.
 11. A buckle assembly, comprising: a buckle having a tape connection portion and a tape adjuster portion; a first flexible tape connected to the tape connection portion; and a second flexible tape connected to the tape adjuster portion and looped upon itself by extending through a first tape adjuster hole, around a bridge, through a second tape adjuster hole and back facing itself such that an effective length of the second flexible tape can be adjusted.
 12. The buckle assembly of claim 11, wherein the first flexible tape has a greater width than a width of the second flexible tape.
 13. The buckle assembly of claim 11, wherein the connection portion of the buckle has a first tape connection hole receiving the first flexible tape.
 14. The buckle assembly of claim 1, wherein the restraining shoulder is offset from the bridge in a direction extending away from a bottom side of the buckle.
 15. The reducer adjuster buckle of claim 5, wherein the tape restraining member is offset from a bridge in a direction extending away from a bottom side of the reducer adjuster buckle.
 16. The buckle assembly of claim 11, further comprising a tape restraining shoulder at the second tape adjuster hole, the first tape adjuster hole being free of a tape restraining member.
 17. The buckle assembly of claim 16, wherein the tape restraining shoulder is offset from the bridge in a direction extending away from a bottom side of the buckle. 